Kevin McStay was satisfied to see his Mayo side reach the Division 1 final of the Allianz Football League in what he says was the most closely-fought top tier ever.
In a topsy turvy afternoon of action across the country, Mayo went from seventh to first in the table in the latter stages of their victory over Donegal at Castlebar.
A late penalty save Colm Reape against Daire O Baoill kept the green and red top of the pile, set up a Division 1 final against Kerry next weekend, and relegated Tyrone in the process.
For McStay, who is in his third year in charge of his native county, the mission was the same today as it had been ahead of the previous six games this year.
"We were just playing it in the moment," he said on RTÉ's Sunday Sport.
"Our stall was well set out during the week. Two points were on offer and we were going after the two points, and everything else would look after itself.
"I'd say there was a lot of fun with calculators; down the sideline we were just totally tuned to winning the game. We had no sense other than, we needed to win the game.
"That's what we were chasing the whole time. I didn't get caught up in the numbers.
"We'd people telling us where we were, obviously, but the performance - and getting the two points - would look after everything.
"Pre the league, we all agreed it was the most competitive eight teams in the history of that league. Therefore, the natural consequence is it's going to be as tight as hell.
"That's exactly how it turned out. We understood that a one-point win could put us northerly, but a one-point defeat could have us looking at relegation. That's really how tight it was."
On the key moment in the match - the penalty save by Reape - McStay was full of praise for his goalkeeper.
"It was a pivotal moment, that penalty," he continued.
"A brilliant save by Colm. Both parties did their bit but our fella did a little bit more. The 11-metre penalty is very hard to stop and he did great.
"We still had to go out and get a few possessions thereafter, didn't a ball flash off the crossbar after the peno?"
The CCCC will confirm the final details for the Division 1 final but it's likely to be played on Sunday at Croke Park.
Mayo are up against Sligo in the Connacht Championship the following Sunday but, for McStay, who was under pressure in Mayo in the off season, there's a sense of contentedness at getting to the decider against the men from the Kingdom.
"We reflect on the league as seven tough games and we got an awful lot out of it. We developed as a group and certainly built out our capacity and got a lot of things out of the league.
"We have found the best way to navigate is one day, and one game at a time.
"What a game to have at this time of the year - a fantastic game to have and fantastic prep. It really sends the league to bed on a national stage in Croke Park. Then we'll get ready for the championship game thereafter.
"That's the way we've approached it since we became the management team and it's not going to change."
